Accordion



Nov. 27, 1951 R. R. RlEscHxcK 2,575,480

AccoRDIoN Filed June 1o, 1947 4 shets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 27, 1951 R. R. RlEscHlcK 2,576,480

ACCORDION Filed June lO, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y /f/ JNVENToR. I 88 f76. Rzzf/fd/zfff/m Novn 27, 1951 R. R. Rxl-:SCHICK ACCORDION 4Sheet-s-Sheet 3 Filed June l0, 1947 Nov. 27, 1951 R. R. RiEscHlcK2,576,480

ACCORDION Filed June lO, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 27, 1951UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCORDIGN Richard R. Rieschick, New York, N.Y.

Application June 10, 1947, Serial No. 753,683

6 Claims.

This invention relates to accordions.

The invention has for its object to provide a structure which may bemade largely of plastic material, preferably transparent, and of suchstructural features, whereby the parts may be made under massproduction, and readily assembled, in order to remove as much of theusual handwork as possible, and thus reduce the cost of production; andextend the general use of such accordions.

For this purpose the invention consists of a bellows part which has ateach of its open ends a frame with flanges. Two end parts are providedeach of which fits against said flanges of the bellows part. Each endpart has a transparent membrane supporting reed casings on one side, andhaving openings in registration with the reed casings, and having novelvalves on its other side, governed by actions, operated by keys orbutton levers.

The keyboard and the button board are separate permitting the main partsto be used for different keyboards or different bass button boards.

'I'he keys are of novel shape having a metallic rib integral with theaction and a plastic covering, the covering having flanges movable inspaces formed by a plurality of guide ribs.

The invention will be more fully described, an embodiment thereof shownin the drawings, and the invention will be nally pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved accordion;

Fig. 2 is a right hand end view;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section with the parts spaced from eachother;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6--6 f Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 'l-l of Fig.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the valve operated by the key depressed lever;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on line IU-I 0 of Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line II-Il of Fig.10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a white key;

Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the upper unit taken from line l3--l3 ofFig. 5;

Fig. 14 is a bottom view of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 15 is a broken section taken on line I5-l5 o1 Fig. 14.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe various views.

Referring to the drawings, the improved accordion consists essentiallyof three parts, A, B and C.

The part A (see Fig. 4) consists of an upper frame l5 of suitableplastic material, having upwardly extending iianges I6 and I1, a lowerfame |5a of suitable plastic material having downwardly extendingiianges IBa and l la, and a bellows 2li, having its open ends secured bysuitable fastening to each of the inner sides of the frames I 5 and15a.. The parallel flanges I 6 and l1 as also the parallel flanges 16aand lla form outwardly open channels I 8 and l8a. The inner flanges l1and I 'la are slightly lower than the" outward flanges I6 and 16a. Thepart A is of general rectangular shape with rounded corners, determiningthe general shape of the accordion.

'Ihe upper part B (see Figs. 4 and 5) consists of a body portion 2l openat its lower end of a suitable height, extending circumferentially andof a shape of general rectangular character with rounded cornerportions, conforming to the shape of the part A. Within this bodyportion 2l, and at its upper end, there is provided a membrane 22 ofsuitable plastic material, preferably transparent, which has peripheralflanges 23, the size of this anged membrane being such as to fit withinthe body portion 2l to abut against shoulder 24 and 24a of the bodyportion 2|, with theY outer surfaces of the flanges 23 closely huggingthe inner surface of the body portion 2l, and preferably held byacetone. To the lower side of the membrane 22, a plurality of casings25" are secured, which have the reads 26 and felts 2l (Fig. 4), andwhich communicate with openings 28 in the membrane 22. These reeds andfelts are well known and are not described in detail, attention beingcalled to the simplicity of the casings 25, also made of suitable lightweight material. Thus, the membrane 22 supports the casings 25, and theremoval of the membrane 22 from the body portion or casing 2l, removesthe casings 25, and vice versa the insertion of the membrane 22 insertsthe casings 25. The upper part of the body portion 2l curves over to thewall 24h. A cover 3Q of grill form is suitably attached by screws orrivets 3i to the wall 24h. The cover 30 has in the embodiment shown inFig. 1, a plurality of openings 39a (Fig. 1). The rear ends of the wall24h and the cover 3U terminate short of the rear of the body portion 2l.Above the shoulder 24a, the body portion 2| extends upwardly as shown bythe extension 32 having an inclined surface 33. There is a space betweenthe rear of the cover 38 and the extension 32 and through this adetachable keyboard 35 is inserted, and when inserted it is secured tothe body portion 22 by screwbolts 35, having nuts 31 (Fig. Theremovability of the nuts 31, and bolts 36, enables the keyboard 35 tc beremoved, and a different one replaced therein. Thus, means are providedfor an interchangeable keyboard. 'I'he keyboard 35 consists of a backplate 38 having marginal flanges 39 and 38a, which anges 39 and 38a areparallel withreach other, and support a pivot rod 39h for the Vwhite andblock keys 49, 48a, (Figs. 1 and 5). Y"The back Y plate 38 has aninwardly extending flange 4|, the

outer surface of which is provided with a felt layer 42 (Fig. 5).

The keys 48 are made of Ya suitable plastic Inaterial and are oflspecial construction, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 12. Each key 44consists off a flatv outer surface 4.2 to be pressed by the ingers, withouter parallel nangesr 43, and a pair of parallel flanges 44, spacedfrom each other to allow for the entrance of one end of a metalstrengthening bar 45, which extends forward to form Van extension'45a'to rest below the flange 4|, and to act as a .stop device, when thekey 4|! and consequently the bar 45 is relieved of nger pressure. Aspring 46 has one'end 41 press against the. bottom of the bar 45. Thisend 41 is 'bent toy enter a hole in the bottom of the bar 45. .Thespring 45 is then coiled one turn to form a coil 49. and its other freeend 55 presses against the back plate 3,8.Vv The White key operation isshown Vin Fig. 5, and the black key operation is shown in Fig. 8. Theback plate 38 has an abutment 5|. with a' felt covering 52 to serve thesame purpose for the black keys 40a as the flange 4| andgits-,feltcovering 42 serves for the white keys, namely, to dampen the shock, whenthe keys are pressed of the pressure of the fingers. The spring 45 fortheblack keys is vshorter than the spring 4G for the white keys. Thespring cannot fall outof its nest accidentally.

The back plate 38 has a'plurality of parallel guide ribs 38a formingspaces for the movement of the keys, as shown for the black keys 40a inFig.A 7. The flanges 43 and 44 of the white keys 40 (Fig. 6) do notenter the spaces betweenthe guide ribs 38a, as blue guide ribs 38aterminate about where the reference character 41 appears in Fig-5. Y

VEach White-key 48 and each black key 48a is pivoted on the rod 39h, andeach has an action member 55, to the free end of which a valve 56 islsecured as shown in Figsf, 9, 1.0, Y11 and 12. The member 55 isintegral with the bar 45.

The end of each action member 55 has a curved recess51 (Figs. 9 to 12)engaging a curved abutment 58 of a separate frame 5.9 of the valve 55.The lower surface of the Ymember 55 is provided with a leather layer 55of U-shape, which slidingly engages a leather layer 6|, secured to arigid member 62, having at its lower side, a leather layer B3 (Fig. 10).The curved recess 51 and curved abutment 58, and slidable connection,gives substantially a universal motion connection. By pressing any key,black or white, the corresponding action 55, there being one for everykey, is-actuated. The valve 58 is then raised from the membrane 22,whereby the casing 25 is opened to the atmosphere, and the aircompressed by the reeds, with the sound passing out of the openings 28,and through the open spaces l 30a. of the cover 30 tothe atmosphere. Theconnection enables the valve 56 to close all parts of its opening.

When this cover 38 is removed, the keyboard 35, with all the keys andactions, may be removed, and another substituted, the bolts 36 and nuts31 being, of course, removed and replaced. The keyboard 35 has lateralextension 35a with curved finger recesses 35h (Figs. l and 2), whichextensions enable the accordion to be readily grasped.

The part A and the part B are joined by inserting the body portion 2| ofpart B into the space between the ilanges of part A, and then fasteningr4the parts together by screws 54 (Fig. 5). A. similar connection isprovided in order to join part A to par-t C (Fig. 5), where the flanges|541 and lla hold by means of screws 54a, the marginal wall 65 of thepart C. Thereby a basic housing is provided.

Generally considered, part .C vis the reverse of part B. In part C, thebody .portion 'lil has the before referred to marginal wall'55, whichextends beyond a shoulder 1l, upon which amembrane 15 is seated (Fig.5). This membrane 15 is a suitable transparent or translucent plasticmaterial like the membrane 22, and on its outer or upper sides hasconnected thereon reed cgasings 15, the Vmembrane '15 havingcorresponding openings 11, opened or vclosedby valves 18, preferably ofthe construction shown in Fig. 10, each connected* with an action lever19, pivoted on the shaft 88, and having an elbow lever 8| engaged by anactuating rod 82 having a button 83. The buttons 53 each pass through anopening in a button board 85, as knovvn.- 5A

spring 85 presses the lever 8 l ,to hold the valve lll manner describedin connection with membraney 22. Thus, the body portion 1|)forming'es'sentially the part C and forming a closure or casing, maywith the membrane 15, be separated from part A, by the removal of thescrews 64a., and the membrane 1 5 may be separated from the body portion10, by the removal of the screws14. The membrane 15, like the membrane2,*2/,carries ,Y the plurality of reed casings, which extend in to thespace within the bellows formed bythe two detachable membranes 22 and15.

The bass plate or button board` 84 may also be readily substituted byanother with a dieient number of buttons, the valves V18, and reed.

casings 16 and openings being modied in number accordingly.

The body portion 1|.) has a rim 88 on seated a separable bottom plate81. The bottom plate 81, two projections 81a which t into recesses |02the wall 86 (Fig, 14;), and the other.,

These screws can be .iustably secured by screws 9| to the inside of thebody portion 10, the leather strapilr passing through a gap formed bytheA body portion 'l0 and rim 86, the other end of the belt 90 having astop 92 locking the end to the opposing rim 86 and spaced abutment 93(Fig. 15).

A shoulder strap known and not shown, is adapted to be secured tometallic straps ,95, one at each rear corner of part B (Figs. 1 to 3).The plastic Wall of the body portion 2l, curved at its rea-r corners,fisprovided at its inner surface with a metallic reinforcing sheet 96.Holes in the sheetl $6 in the Iwall 2l and in a pair of bases 91register with each other. Bolts 98 pass through these holes. Nuts 99 areprovided. The straps orbars 95 extend from the base 91 of one pair tothe other base of that pair, the bars 95 being spaced from the body.portion a suitable distance for the passage of the shoulder straps. Byplacing the metallic straps 95 on the corners, the shoulder strap iskept from interfering With the bellows.

The exterior of the accordion is provided with a closure strap 20a, asknown (Figs. 1 and 2).

From the foregoing it is clear that the bellows part A has at each openend of the bellows 20, aframe with outwardly extending spaced anges eachframe adapted to receive the body portion of the part B or the part C.

Each part B and C has a transparent membrane, supporting the reedcasings, whereby upon the removal of the membrane which fits snugly intothe body portions, the reed casings are likewise removed.

The part .A has the replaceable keyboard and actions.

The part C has the replaceable button board and actions and theremovable actions and valves cooperating with the membrane of part C.

The novel keys and guide ribs form an important feature of theinvention.

I have described several forms of my invention, but obviously variouschanges may be made in the details disclosed -without departing from thespirit of the invention as set out in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an accordion, a bellows, a frame for each open end of the bellows,said frame having a marginal fiange, an end member having a shoulder atits interior, and a circumferential Wall, a membrane having a marginalrim seated against said shoulder, for supporting reeds, a second endmember having a shoulder at its interior, and a circumferential wall, amembrane having a marginal rim seated against the shoulder of the secondend member for supporting reeds, means fastening the flange of the frameof one end of the bellows to the wall of the first end member, and meansfastening the flange of the frame of the other end of the bellows to thewall of the second end member, said parts forming the main structure ofthe accordion.

2. In an accordion, a bellows, a frame for each open end of the bellows,said frame having a marginal fiange, an end member having a shoulder atits interior, and a circumferenial wall, a membrane having a marginalrim seated against said shoulder, for supporting reeds, a second endmember having a shoulder at its interior, and a circumferential wall, amembrane having a marginal rim seated against the shoulder of the secondend member for supporting reeds, means fastening the flange of the frameof one end of the bellows to the wall of the first end member,

and` means fastening the flange ofthe frame of the other end of thebellows to the wall of the second end member, said parts forming themain structure of the accordion,`said rst end member having a keyboardentrance, and a separate keyboard with key actions and valves in saidentrance and secured to the first end member.

3. In an accordion, a bellows, a frame for each open end of the bellows,said frame having a marginal flange, an end member having a shoulder atits interior, and a circumferential wall, a membrane having a marginalrim seated against said shoulder, for supporting reeds, a second endmember having a shoulder at its interior, and a circumferential wall, amembrane having a marginal rim seated against the shoulder of the secondend member for supporting reeds, means fastening the ange'of the frameof one end of the bellows to the wall of the first end member, and meansfastening the ange of the frame of the other end of the bellows to thewall of the second end member, said parts forming the main structure ofthe accordion, said membrane in the second end member having valveactions for valves on the side opposite to the reed side, and a basskeyboard for buttons actuating said actions.

4. In an accordion, a bellows, a frame for each open end of the bellows,said frame having a marginal ange, an end member having a shoulder atits interior, and a circumferential wall, a membrane having a marginalrim seated against said shoulder, for supporting reeds, a second endmember having a shoulder at its interior, and a circumferential wall, amembrane having a marginal rim seated against the shoulder of the secondend member for supporting reeds, means fastening the ange of the frameof one end of the bellows to the wall of the rst end member, and meansfastening the flange of the frame of the other end of the bellows to thewall of the second end member, said parts forming the main structure ofthe accordion, said second member having parallel supports integral withthe end member.

5. In an accordion, a bellows, .a frame for each open end of thebellows, said frame having a marginal flange, an end member having ashoulder at its interior, and a circumferential wall, a membrane havinga marginal rim seated against said shoulder, for supporting reeds, asecond end member having a shoulder at its interior, and acircumferential wall, a membrane having a marginal rim seated againstthe shoulder of the second end member for supporting reeds, meansfastening the flange of the frame of one end of the bellows to the wallof the first end member, and means fastening the ange of the frame ofthe other end of the bellows to the wall of the second end member, saidparts forming the main structure of the accordion, said first end memberhaving a cover with openings above said valves, detachably secured tosaid end member.

6. In an accordion, the combination of three separate parts, a centralpart, an upper end part and a lower end part, said central partconsisting of an open ended bellows and a flat frame aligned with andsecured at one side to each open end of the bellows, the exposed side ofeach frame at its margin having flanges perpendicularly extendingoutwardly thereform, said upper end part consisting of a casing having akeyboard, valve levers and valves, and formed of an open endedcircurnferential wall with an interior shoulder inwardly of said openend, and a membrane on said shoulder separate from the casing and havingvalve portsywithfone sidey against said valves and its other sidesupporting reeds controlled by said valves,;said 'membrane beingslidable from said open ',end to and from said interior shoulder, saidcircumferential Wall at its margin being aligned with and engaging theflanges of the frame at one end of the'bellows, and said lower end partconsisting of a casing having a button board, Valve levers and valves,and formed of an open ended circumferential wall with an interiorshoulder inwardly of saidopenend, and a membrane on said shoulderseparate from the casing and having valve ports,- with one side againstsaidlast named valves and at its other side supporting reeds controlledby said valves, said membrane being slidable from said open end to and.-from said shoulder, said vcircumferential wall at its marginV beingaligned *with and engaging the flangesy of -the frame at the other endof the bellows, and lmeans fastening the anges of the bellows frames tothe circumferential walls of the casings, whereby on the unfastening ofsaid means, the three parts may be separated and the membranes withtheir reeds removed from and replaced to ltheir end parts.

RICHARD R. RIESCHICK.

REFERENCES CITED Number Number Name Date Sutton Aug. 13, 1889 SpurrierOct. 16, 1917 Palmer Y Aug. '19, 1924 Palmer Jan. 6, 1925 Umbriaco Apr.24, 1928 Luttbeg Sept. 29, 1931Y Rieschick Apr. 18, 1933 Nelson Dec. 11,1934 Guidobaldi Mar. '7, 1939 Lindeberg Jan. 23, 1940 Magnante Jan. 7,1941 Lidbloom Jan. 28, 1941 Miller July 22, 1941 Bundy Sept. 8, 1942Logli Sept. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Feb. 17,1936

